Receptacle for electric plugs



lJune 20, 1933A B. F. MULDooN 1,915,070V

RECEPTACLE FOR ELECTRIC PLUGS Filed Sept. 5, 1928 Patented June 20, 1933UNTD STATES PATENT FFIC BERNARD F. MULDOON, OF MOUNTAINVIEW, NEW JERSEY,ASSIGNOR TO HENRY HYMAN, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK RECEPTACLE FOR ELECTRICPLUGS Application filed September This invention relates to a receptaclefor a plurality of electric plugs, which can be manufactured veryrapidly and economically and assembled very conveniently. It comprises ametallic plate into which a plurality of sockets for plugs can beinserted and will be retained rmly in place. The ends of the socketsthat have been inserted through the metallic plate are connected by aninsulating strip and a pair of terminal strips with spring contactsextend into the sockets in such positions that the terminals of a plugwill come into contact therewith when the plug is inserted.

The invention will be understood from the description in connection withthe accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a plan View of anillustrative embodiment of the invention; F ig. 2 is a section along theline 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the metal plate; Fig. 4 isa sect-ion along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of one of the terminal strips.

In the drawing reference character 1 indicates a metal plate that isprovided with openings 2 near the ends thereof for the purpose ofconveniently connecting the device to an outlet box in the Well knownmanner. Enlarged circular portions 3 are provided intermediate the endsof the plate 1 and a. hole 4 through which a socket may be caused toproject is provided in each circularl portion 3. The holes 4 are shownas being rectangular, but other shapes of holes may be provided tocorrespond to the external shape of the sockets that are inserted.Tongues 5 made by slitting the metal of the strip 1 as indicated at 5,are provided so that the ends of the tongues 5 project slightly beyondthe edges of the holes 4 for a purpose to be described below. A pair oftongues 5 is preferably provided for each opening, these tongues beingalong opposite sides of the opening.

A socket 6 of insulating material having a 5, 1928. Serial No. 304,999.

shank of the shape of the hole 4 is pushed through the hole 4 in theplate 1, thus springing the ends of the tongues 5 in the direction inwhich the socket 6 is pushed, until the iange contact with the surfaceof the plate 1. Any tendency to withdraw the socket 6 causes the tongues5 to bind the socket in position and prevent it from being displaced.This results in causing the tongues to pivot about the point where theyjoin the main body of the metal, thus clamping the socket 6 firmly.

Each socket 6 is provided with a central hole 8 extending from theJflanged end of the socket almost to the other end thereof. An insulatingplate 9 is placed across the ends of the sockets 6 as most clearly shownin Fig. 2, and this insulating plate 9 is att-ached to the sockets 6 bymeans of rivets 10, one end of each of the rivets 10 extending into thehole 8 of the vsocket 6. rEhe ends of the sockets 6 are made flat forthe strip 9, and since the strip 9 is securely riveted to the ends ofthe sockets and the sockets are held in the holes 4, they will berigidly retained in place without the danger of becoming loose.

Each socket 6 is provided with a pair of spaced longitudinal holes oropenings 12 and 13 extending entirely therethrough, the portions of theholes beyond the flange 7 being enlarged, as shown at 14. The holes 12and 18 are made of different sizes to accommodate correspondingterminals of a plug so as to prevent mistake in the proper polarity ofthe connections. The entrances to the holes 12 and 13 arebeveled asshown at 15 to enhance the appearance and make the entrances to theholes or openings of the same size.

Each socket 6 is slotted, as shown at 16, at the end opposite the flange7, these slots extending from the ends of the sockets and communicatingwith the enlarged portions 14 of the holes 12 and 13 on both sidesthereof to accommodate a pair of terminal strips 17,

r at the end of the socket 6 comes into 50 the slots on one side of theholes 12 and 13 90 accommodating the strips when the socket 6 is in onehole 4 and the slots on the other side of the holes 12 and 13accommodating the strips when the socket is in the other hole 4. Thesides of the holes 4 in the strip may be provided with recesses 4 andthe sockets 6 with extensions or projections 6 to it these recesses, soas to make it certain that the sockets 6 will be correctly inserted inthe holes 4 and thus avoid the danger of reversing the polarity of theterminals. Either socket 6 can be placed in either hole 4 withoutbecoming reversed and will accommodate the strips 17.

One of the terminal strips 17 is shown in detail in Fig. 5 and thestrips are shown in dotted line in assembled relation in Fig. 1. Eachstrip is provided with a spring contact 18 for each socket 6 by havingextensions along the edge of the strip and bending the same back asindicated. Notches- 19 are provided in one edge of the strip adjacentthe contacts 18 and these notches 19 fit over the ends of the slot 16when the parts are assembled.

A binding screw 20 is provided for each strip 17. In View of the factthat the metal of the strip 17 may be too thin to provide the propernumber of threads for the binding screws 20, provision is maderforretaining a nut in position next to the side of the strip 17 into whichthe binding screws can be screwed. For this purpose a tongue 21 isprovided along one edge of the strip 17 between the contacts 18 and thistongue is bent twice at ri ht angles, so that its main portion lies paralel to the side of the strip 17 and spaced a sufficient distancetherefrom to permit a nut to be inserted. The portion o the tongue 21lying parallel to the side 17 may be provided with a hole 22 into whichthe end of the binding screw 20 may extend. The edges of the tongue 21may be provided with extensions 23 that may be bent at right angles asshown at Fig. 5, so that the ends of these extensions contact with theside of the strips 17 or nearly so. In this way th'e tongue 21 and theextensions 23 provide a pocket into which the square nut 24 may beintroduced and prevented from turning when the screw 21 is inserted. Thestrips 18 and the nuts 24 will, of course, be put in place in the slots16 before the insulating strips 9 are riveted to the ends of the sockets6.

Changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spiritor scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A receptacle comprising a plate having a plurality o spaced openingstherein, a pair of separate insulating socket members received withinsaid openings, means for attaching said socket members to said plate, aninsulating strip attached to said socket members and interconnecting thelatter, each of said socket members being formed with a plurality ofopenings for receiving plug blades, a pair of terminal strips positionedbetween said plate and said insulating strip, each of said terminalstrips having the ends thereof extending into corresponding openings ofsaid socket members, and spring contact portions at the ends oi' saidstrips rereceived within said openings in said socket members.

2. A receptacle comprising a plate having a plurality of spaced openingstherein, a pair of separate insulating socket members re ceived withinsaid openings, means for attaching said socket members to said plate, aninsulating strip attached to the rear faces of said 'socket members andinterconnecting said members, each of said socket members being formedwith a 'plurality of openings for receiving plug blades, and a pair ofconducting strips each having the ends thereof extending intocorresponding openings of said socket members, said insulating stripbeing adapted to retain said conducting strips in position, and saidconducting strips being disposed between said insulating strip and saidplate.

3. A receptacle comprising a member having a pair of openings thereinfor receiving fastening means whereby said member may be attached to asupport, said member being formed with another' pair of spaced openings,a pair of separate socket members received within said last mentionedopenings and extending rearwardly o said member, means for attachingsaid socket members to said irst member, an insulating stripinterconnectin g the rear portions oi' said socket members, and terminalmembers extending into said socket members positioned between said irstmentioned member and said insulating strip.

4. A receptacle comprising a metal plate having a plurality of openingstherethrough and tongues extending into opposite sides of i saidopenings and beyond the end edges of said openings, a socket member ineach of said openings, the edges of said tongues abutting the side wallsof said socket members,

and an insulating strip interconnecting said if socket members. Y 5. Areceptacle comprising a metal plate having a plurality of openingstherethrough and tongues extending into opposite sides of said openingsand beyond the end edges of said openings, a socket member in each ofsaid openings, the edges oi' said tongues abut ting the side walls ofsaid socket members, an insulating strip interconnecting said members,and a pair of terminal strips having spring contacts extending into saidsocket members. f

6. A receptacle comprising a plate having a plurality of spaced openingstherein, a pair of separate insulating socket members said plate.

BERNARD F. MULDOON.

